* BRUISED TRUTH*
The sun filtered through the windows of the school hallway, casting a golden hue over the floors. Hiroshi adjusted his glasses, his hands clammy with a mix of excitement and nervousness. The thought of joining the literary club had been on his mind for weeks, but today, he had finally mustered the courage to go for it.
His grip tightened on the neatly filled application form as he approached the door labeled *Literary Clubroom*.
“Okay, Hiroshi. You’ve got this,” he muttered under his breath. “Just hand over the form, smile, and don’t embarrass yourself.”
Pushing the door open, he was greeted by the sight of rows of shelves lined with books, cozy seating arrangements, and a warm, almost nostalgic scent of aged paper and ink. His eyes scanned the room nervously, only to widen in surprise when he spotted a familiar figure sitting by the window, flipping through a book.
It was Hina.
The sunlight streamed in behind her, making her long, sleek hair gleam like polished obsidian. Her posture was relaxed, one hand propping up her chin while the other turned the pages of the book in her lap. Her skin was smooth and glowing, her almond-shaped eyes focused intently on the words in front of her. Hiroshi couldn't help but notice the subtle scent of jasmine wafting through the air, faint but undeniably hers.
“Wait… what is *she* doing here?” Hiroshi whispered to himself, his throat tightening.
Hina looked up at the sound of the door opening, her gaze locking onto his. A wide, playful smile spread across her face.
“Hiroshi?” she called out, closing her book and setting it aside. “What are you doing here?”
Hiroshi froze, gripping the application form like a lifeline. “I… uh… I’m here to join the club.”
Hina raised an eyebrow, her smile widening. “Really? You? Joining a club?”
“Yes,” he replied quickly, trying to sound more confident than he felt. “I like books. And… I want to write one someday.”
“Well, well,” she teased, standing up and sauntering over to him. “Who would’ve thought? The quiet bookworm has ambitions.”
Her teasing tone made him want to shrink into himself, but he held his ground, lifting the form slightly. “I just need to submit this.”
“Relax, Hiroshi. I’m just messing with you,” she said, taking the form from his hand. “Come on, I’ll help you out.”
---
Hiroshi followed her to the desk at the front of the room, where applications were kept. As she checked over his form, he couldn’t help but notice how effortlessly poised she seemed. Her movements were graceful, her demeanor confident.
“So,” she said, breaking the silence, “what kind of books do you like?”
“Fantasy, mostly,” he replied, shifting on his feet. “I like the idea of creating whole new worlds.”
Hina glanced up at him, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “Let me guess—your first novel is going to have dragons, wizards, and a chosen hero, right?”
“Well… maybe,” he admitted, scratching the back of his neck.
She chuckled. “Figures. You don’t seem like the romance type.”
Hiroshi frowned. “What’s wrong with that?”
“Nothing,” she said with a grin. “It’s just… predictable.”
YOU ARE READING
THE FIRST TIME DADDY
RomanceMax never imagined his life would turn out like this: a single father raising a lively two-year-old while working at a quiet bookstore. Far from the successful man his wealthy parents hoped he'd become, Max is still finding his footing after years o...
